ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120100
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Hospital sues patient's estate for fire damage
PETERSBURG - Attorneys for a city hospital where five people were killed in a 1994 New Year's Eve fire want the estate of a patient who is suspected of causing the blaze to pay $10 million in damages.
The lawyers for Southside Regional Medical Center also want the estate of the patient, Dora E. Matthews, to pay for any jury awards against the hospital resulting from 11 fire-related lawsuits.
Matthews, a former nurse at the hospital, was among the five people who died. She was being treated for alcohol detoxification and other ailments and was restrained in her bed when the fire broke out.
Officials say Matthews was smoking. Charred remains of matches and cigarettes were found near her bed.
The hospital's motions against Matthews' estate were filed last week in circuit courts in Richmond and Petersburg. The motions contend that Matthews acted ``carelessly, recklessly and negligently or intentionally in setting herself and her bed on fire.''
The estate administrator, Janice M. Fultz, is one of the 11 plaintiffs who have sued the hospital and other defendants as a result of the fire.
Fultz is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, based on claims of building code violations, equipment failure and faulty building conditions in the area where the fire occurred.
- Associated Press
N.C. police arrest 5 Va. men in homicide
EDEN, N.C. - Police have arrested five Henry County, Va., men in the slaying of an Eden man who died when shots were fired into his home.
Anthony Dwayne Scales, 19, turned himself over Monday night to the sheriff's office in Henry County, which is just across the state line. He was being held there Tuesday on a fugitive warrant.
Scales was the last of five suspects arrested after police issued first-degree murder warrants Friday in the slaying of Richard Daniel Smith, 22.
Smith died Feb. 4 after he was hit twice by bullets that police believe went through the front door of his home. He was holding his 2-year-old son at the time, but the child wasn't injured. At least six other bullets struck the house.
``They shot at his house,'' said Eden Police Chief Gary Benthin. ``What their intentions were, I don't know at this time.''
Timothy Gregory Hamilton, 26, and Donelle Kirk Wade, 25, also were being held in the Henry County jail on fugitive warrants.
Louis Shawn Hampton, 18, and Marcelus Schamine Murphy, 24, were already being held on unrelated warrants when police issued the murder warrants.
- Associated Press
Police charge coach in sex case with teen
WISE - A teacher and tennis coach at J.J. Kelly High School was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in a case involving a 15-year-old female student, authorities said.
Samuel Mark Newman, 40, was arrested during the weekend on the four misdemeanor counts.
Commonwealth's Attorney Greg Kallen said the alleged offenses were sexual in nature. He refused further comment.
Newman has been suspended with pay.
- Associated Press
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